Bell-piano.



No. 855,056. I PATENTED MAY 28, 1907.

F. HIRSGHFELD.

BELL PIANO. 'APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 22, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

34 Ill-IQ m I V/NVENTOH J, W66 '5) I 15 raw A TTORNE YS THE NORRISPETIRS cm, wAsz-lmaron, n, c.

PATENTED MAY 28, 1907. P. HIRSGHFELD.

BELL PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, 1907.

2 SHEETS-S33E13 2.

A TTORNE rs T-IE NORRIS rzrncs $5., wrnw REID, nc.

FRIEDRICH I-IIRSOHFELD, OF NFNV YORK, N. Y.

BELL-PIANO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

r'atented May 28, 1907.

Application filed January 22, 1907. Serial No. 353,510.

To (ti/Z whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH Hlnson- FIELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York, State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bell-Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates more particularly to orchestral bell pianos inwhich the sounding elements may be played by the ordinary pianokeyboard.

The primary object of the invention is to provide simple and efficientmeans whereby a plurality of bars or other sounding elements may besuitably supported, and so arranged that they may be played upon readilyby those familiar with the ordinary piano key board; which is neat andattractive in appearance, and which is compact and so constructed thatthe parts may be readily assembled and repaired.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and eiiicientmeans whereby the nature of the instrument may be changed by simplychanging the nature of the sound-producing elements, and to so arrangethe parts that the instrument may be more readily played than the usualdevices intended to produce the same effect.

The invention will be hereinafter more particularly described withreference to the ac companying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, and will then be pointed out in the claims at the end ofthe description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a general plan view of one form ofinstrument embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsection, partly in elevation, taken on the line IIII of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is an enlarged vertical section, partly broken away and partly insection, showing more clearly the mechanical features of the invention.Fig. 4, 1s a detail of the spring employed for holdmg the hammer 111 araised positlon. Fig. 5,

- is a fragmentary detail plan of the means for pivotally supporting thearms of the hammers. Fig. 6, is a fragmentary vertical section taken onthe lines VI V I of Fig. 1 and Fig. 7, is a detail plan of the springhinge for the inner ends of the keys.

The frame 10 has a base 11 supported upon suitable legs 12, and theremay be a casing, not shown, for inclosing the several parts of theinstrument, all of which may be of any suitable construction. cured thestrips or bars 13, and projecting upward from the bars are posts 141around each of which is a rubber washer 15. The posts are arranged intwo rows transversely of the instrument, and each has an aperturethrough which passes an instrument string 16 made of gut or of anysuitable material, and which is secured at its ends to the instrumentframe. These strings are adapted to support the bells, bars or othersounding elements 17, and each element has an aperture therethrough,which is adapted to fit over the posts of one of the rows, and betweenthe posts of the other row, so as to be normally sustained in ahorizontal position.

For the purpose of producing sound, I arrange a hammer 18 or otherstriking device adjacent to the sounding elements 17. Each soundingelement 17 has its individual ham- To the base are semer, and eachhammer has its independent operating mechanism, which is substantiallythe same, and a description of one, therefore, will answer thedescription of all. As shown the hammer 18 is a metallic ball secured toone end of a rod 19, and the other end of said rod is held to a block20, which is pivoted intermediate its ends between lugs or uprights 21forming a part of a bracket 22. This bracket is secured to a metallicplate 23, and under the metallic plate is a felt strip 24,

.which is held to a curved bar 25 forming a part of the frame. The lugsof the bracket form a fork so that the hammer block may be pivotedbetween the members thereof, and through the lugs and the hammer blockpasses a pivot bolt 26, which is securely fastened to the lugs. A spring27, Figs. 3 and 4, is arranged to normally hold the hammer in a raisedposition, and this spring has its ends normally resting against thebracket, and has a spiral part 28 which fits around the pivot 26 andserves not only as a part of the spring proper, but also acts as awasher between the lugs of the bracket and the harm mer block 20, andsaid spring has a U-shaped part 29 which passes through the hammerblock, and serves to hold the hammer normally in a raised position. Thehammer rod 19 in its raised position normally rests against the feltstrip 30 which is secured to a bar 31, and this bar is supported bybrackets or uprights forming a part of the instrument frame.

As a means for operating the hammer to engage the sounding element, Iprovide a lever 32, which lever is pivoted near its inner end to a boss33 on. the bracket 22, and has its inner end pivotally held to thehammer block 20. The outer end of each lever 32 is provided with a rod34, and to the rod is secured a wooden or other device This device orpost 35 may be rounded at its upper end, and normally engages a piece offelt 36 under its respective key 36*. There are a plurality of white anda plurality of black keys and a llkC-IlLUnbGr of sounding elements ofdifferent tones each acted on from a key indicating that particularnote, the keys be ing arranged. as in a piano keyboard. Each key isconstructed at .its outer or fingering part substantially the same as inthe ordinary'piano, andv each key has its inner end pivotally andyieldingly held to a cross-bar 37, which is securely fastened byuprights to the curved bar 25 of the instrument frame. The outer end ofeach key is normally forced downward by the spring 39, Figs. 8 and 7,which has one end slotted, as at 40, so as to be adjustably held to thebar 37 at one end and is rigidly fastened by screws, or otherwise, atits other end to the key. Each. key 36 is provided with an opening, inwhich is a felt washer 42, and underneath the felt washer of each key isa post 43 which is adapted to enter the opening in the washer, andserves as a guide when the key is depressed. The posts 43 are secured toa transverse bar 44, and this bar is supported by uprights projectingupward from the instrument frame, and adjacent to the posts is a stripof felt 45 against which the keys are adapted to rest when they aredepressed. The springs which hold the inner ends of the keys arecomparatively light, and serve as hinges and normally force the outerends downward, while the springs which force the hammers upward arestronger, and also normally force the outer ends of the levers withtheir projecting parts upward against the felt under the keys. A bar orplate 46 is arranged over the keys to limit their upward movement, andunder the plate 46 is a strip of felt 47 to prevent noise by the impactof the keys against said bar. By this means each key and itshammer-operating mechanism are independent, but are so arranged that theconnection while loose is practically a positive one, and the action ofeach hammer is very sensitive and the response immediate on any movementof its key.

While I have shown the sounding elements in the nature of bars of steel,it will be understood that the sounding elements may be of aluminium,wood or of any other material, and if of wood. the effect of theordinary Xylophone may be secured. The hammers well as other parts mayalso be of any suitable material and other changes may be made withoutdeparting from the character of the invention.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that several different instrumentsmay be more readily and effectively played and with. mu ch lessdifliculty than is the ease with the usual form of instruments producingthe same sounds, and that any one who is able to play a piano mayreadily play the instrument as herein constructed.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination. with a plurality ofblack and white keys arranged as in. the ordinary piano keyboard, of aplurality of sound ing elements, a plurality of hammers adapted toengage the sounding elements, rods connected to the hammers, blockscarrying the rods, levers connected to the blocks, springs normallyforcing the hammers and the outer ends of the levers upward, and springhinges for forcing the keys to engage a part of the levers.

2. The combination with a plurality of black and white keys arranged. asin the ordinary piano keyboard, of a plurality of sounding elements, aplurality of hammers adapted to engage the sounding elements,rodsconnected to the hammers, blocks carrying the rods, levers comiectedto the blocks, springs normally forcing the hammers and theouter ends ofthe levers upward, and spring hinges for forcing the keys sons to engagea partef the levers. V

3. The combination with a plurality of keys each having a spring hingeconnection. at one end normally forcing the outer end of the keydownward, of a plurality of soumling elements, hammers for engaging theelements to produce sound, together with mechanism connected with thesound producing means operatively and loosely engaging the keys neartheir fingering portions and adapted to be depressed by the movement ofsaid keys.

4. The combination with a frame, of uprights or posts projecting fromsaid frame, strings supported. by the posts, sounding elements supportedby the strings, hammers adapted to engage the sounding elements, rodsconnected to the halmners, pivoted blocks supporting the rods, springsfor forcing the hammers upward, levers pivoted adjacent to the blocksand having one end con.- nected to the hammer blocks and their outerends provided. with upright posts or engaging parts, a plurality ofblack and. white keys, and a spring hinge yieldingly holding one end ofeach key to the frame and normally forcing the outer end of said keydownward to engage the upright post of one of the levers.

5. The combination with a flttll'lO, of sounding elements supported onthe frame, hammers adapted to engage the sounding elements, rodsconnected to the hannners, pivoted blocks supporting the rods, springsfor forcing the hammers upward, levers pivoted lOO adjacent to theblocks and having one end connected to the hammer blocks and their outerends provided with key-engaging parts, a plurality of black and whitekeys, a spring yieldingly holding one end of each key to the frame andnormally forcing said key downward to engage one of the levers.

6. The combination with a frame, of sounding elements supported on theframe, hammers adapted to engage said elements, blocks supporting thehammers, means for forcing the hammers upward, levers pivoted adjacentto the blocks and having one end connected to said blocks, a pluralityof black and White keys, and a spring yieldingly holding one end of eachkey to the frame and nor mally forcing the outer end of said keydownward to engage the outer end. of oneof the levers.

7. The combination with a frame, of uprights or parts projecting fromsaid frame, strings supported by the posts, bars supported by thestrings, hammers adapted to engage the bars, rods connected to thehammers, blocks supporting the rods, springs for forcing the hammersupward, levers pivoted adjacent to the blocks and having one endconnected to the hammer blocks and their outer ends provided with postsor engaging parts, a plurality of black and white keys, and a springhinge yieldingly holding one end of each. key to the frame and normallyforcing the outer end of said key downward to loosely engage the post ofone of the levers.

8. The combination with a frame, of instrument strings supported by theframe, bars supported by strings, hammers adapted to engage the bars,blocks supporting the harm mers, springs for forcing the hammers upward,levers connected to the hammer blocks, a plurality of black and whitekeys, and spring hinges yieldingly holding one end of the keys to theframe and normally forcing the outer ends of said keys down ard toengage the levers.

9. The combination with a plurality of sounding elements, of a pluralityof black and white keys, a hammer for each key, a block supporting eachhammer, and means for pivotally supporting the block comprising abracket, a bolt secured in said bracket, and a spring having a spiralpart arranged around the bolt and serving as a washer between thebracket and the hammer block, said spring having parts engaging thehammer block and the bracket so as to force the hammer up- Ward.

10 The combination with a frame, of a plurality of black and white keysarranged as in the ordinary piano keyboard and having their inner endsprovided with a spring plate the forward end of which is slotted topermit adjustment of the keys and which normally force the outer ends ofthe keys downward, a plurality of sounding elements, and mechanismoperated by the keys when the latter are depressed to cause the elementsto produce sound.

11. The combination with a support, of a plurality of white and blackkeys arranged as in an ordinary piano keyboard, a plurality of soundingbars each having an opening therein, posts projecting from the supportand arranged in two rows one post of one of the rows entering theopening of each sounding bar and the posts of the other row beingarranged between said bars, strings carried by the posts and serving tosuspend the bars, a plurality of hammers one for each bar, and meansoperatively connected between the hammers and the keys whereby said hammers may be made to engage the bars.

12. The combination with a support, of a plurality of white and blackkeys arranged as in an ordinary piano keyboard, a plurality of soundingbars, posts projecting from the support in two rows and engaging saidbars, strings carried by the posts by which the bars are suspended, aplurality of hammers one for each bar, and means operatively connectedbetween the hammers and the keys whereby said hammers may be made toengage the bars.

13. The combination with a support, of a plurality of white and blackkeys arranged as in an ordinary piano keyboard, a plurality of soundingbars each having an opening therein, posts projecting from the supportand entering the openings of the sounding bars, strings carried by theposts and suspending the bars, a plurality of hammers one for each bar,rods connected to the hammers, blocks to which the hammer rods aresecured, brackets to which the blocks are pivoted, springs normallyforcin the hammers upward and serving as washers between the blocks andthe brackets, means against which the hammer rods may rest in theirupward position, levers pivoted to the brackets and having one endconnected to the blocks and their outer ends projecting upward under thelingering portion of the keys, guides for the keys, and a spring hingefor each keynormally forcing the keys into engagement with parts of thelevers.

14. The combination with a support, of a plurality of white and blackkeys arranged as in an ordinary piano keyboard, a plurality of soundingbars each having an opening therein, posts arranged in two rowsprojecting from the support one post of one of the rows entering theopening of one of the sounding bars, strings carried by the posts andsuspending the bars, a plurality of hammers one for each bar, rodsconnected to the hammers, blocks to which the hammer rods are secured,brackets to which the blocks are pivoted, springs normally forcing thehammers upward, means against which the hammer rods may rest in theirupward position, levers pivoted to the brackets and having one endeonneetthe hannner rods are seeured, brackets to 15 ed to the blocks andtheir outer ends projecting upward under the 'lingering portion of thekeys, and a spring for each key normally toreing the keys intoengagement with parts of the levers.

15. The combination with a support, of a plurality of white and blackkeys arranged as in an ordinary piano keyboard, a plurality oi soundingbars, posts projecting l'ren'i the support and engaging the soundingbars, strings carried by the posts and suspending the bars, a pluralityol hammers one for eaeh bar, reds connected to. the hannners, blocks towhich which the blocks are pivoted, strings norinally l'oreing thehannners upward and serving as washers between the blocks and thebrackets, and levers pivoted to the brackets and having one endeonneeted. to the blocks and their outer ends projecting upward. underand engaging the lingering porti on of the keys. 'lhis speei'licatiensigned and witnessed this twenty-first day of January A. l). 1007.

FRIEDRICH HIRSCI l lfiElil). Witnesses:

M. TURNER, L. H. LUNDIN.

